ISLAMABAD: With the ruling PML-N and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) set to flex their political muscles in the by-election for NA-122 constituency on Sunday, the war of allegations between them has intensified.

Responding to PTI chief Imran Khan’s press conference in Lahore, at which he accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of making money through business deals in India, Information Minister Pervez Rashid alleged that the PTI leadership had received funds from US-based “Jewish and Hindu lobbies for anti-state activities”.

According to analysts, the by-election has triggered a harsh blame game because it has turned into a high-stakes battle between the two parties.

Also read: Campaigning for crucial by-elections reaches its peak in Lahore

“Although it is just one constituency, it carries huge symbolic importance for both the sides,” said a political commentator. “If the PTI wins the by-poll, Imran Khan will breathe more fire down the neck of Prime Minister Sharif and repeat his allegations about rigging in the 2013 general elections.

PTI accused of obtaining funds from Jewish, Hindu lobbies to topple elected govt; Arif Alvi rejects allegation

“If Ayaz Sadiq emerges victorious, the PML-N will vehemently reiterate that the general elections were held in a free and fair manner.”

Talking to reporters at the Press Information Department in Islamabad, Mr Rashid repeatedly referred to a petition filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of the PTI who later developed differences with the party leadership.

Mr Babar has claimed in his petition that the PTI received funds from Jewish and Indian lobbies based in the US.

Making the petition the basis of his arguments, the minister termed the PTI chief an “anti-state actor and a traitor involved in conspiracies with foreign agents to overthrow an elected government and create chaos in the country”.

“Had Mr Khan managed to win the general elections and form government with the help of financial assistance from Jews, Hindus and other anti-Pakistan lobbies, what would have happened to the country,” he asked.

The minister also criticised the ECP and the media for not taking the former senior member of the PTI seriously. “The ECP takes no time to cancel our Kisaan package, but is sleeping on Mr Babar’s petition over the past 13 months. Likewise, the media relishes criticising the government, but does not pay attention to what the founding member of the PTI has been saying about foreign funding of his own party.”

PML-N lawmaker Daniyal Aziz, who of late has emerged as one of the top defenders of the government, said that documentary evidence of funding to the PTI “used in anti-state activities” in Pakistan was available with the US justice department.

Asked if the prime minister would take up the issue, which as per their claim was a matter that involved national security, with President Barrack Obama during his coming visit to the US, Mr Rashid and Mr Aziz had no plausible response.

Then a reporter asked them why the PML-N did not invoke Article 6 of the Constitution against Mr Khan if it had evidence about his “act of waging war against the state”. The information minister said the government had been waiting for the ECP’s reaction.

PTI RESPONE: Arif Alvi, a senior PTI leader and member of the National Assembly, in a statement rejected the allegations and said: “The PTI has been registered in the US under its laws and every penny from that country comes to the party in Pakistan through legal channels unlike ‘hundi’ and other illegal money transfers made by the Sharif brothers and other corrupt politicians for decades.”

Dr Alvi said that it was shameful that when corruption of billions of rupees was being committed and money had been taken by Mr Sharif and others from the Inter Services Intelligence, as alleged in the Asghar Khan case in the Supreme Court, the ECP had time to waste on baseless allegations against PTI.

The PTI’s media office also released statement of one Mr Asif Chaudhry, whom the government had accused of playing a role in securing funding of Jewish and Indian lobbies for Mr Khan. Mr Chaudhry clarified that he had only used a chequebook of his firm to contribute funds to the PTI on behalf of his friends, which was being construed as a source of anti-state funding.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2015

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